Network Automation Strategy lead

# Network Automation Strategy lead

Job Req  Date: 22 Jan 2026

Function:
Architecture Solution and Design Unit: UK Business

Location:

Aberdare, United Kingdom Salary:
Competitive Salary + Market Leading Benefits
** Locations Considered:
Manchester, Belfast and Birmingham or London.
**** We operate a hybrid model of 3 days in the office and 2 days working fromn

Liverpool, Newcastle, London, Birmingham or Newcastle home, please only apply if you are comfortable with this arrangement.**##
** Why this job matters
** As a Technical Design Principal, you will be responsible for shaping BT's strategy for network automation and AI-enabled operations across multi-vendor environments.

You will act as a senior individual contributor, using your deep technical expertise to define best practice, establish standards, and guide technical teams in building vendor-agnostic automation and code that can be leveraged across different network platforms.##
** What you’ll be doing
*** Lead the definition and implementation of BT's network automation and AI strategy across multi-vendor environments.
* Collaborate with Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba, Palo Alto and other technology experts to design vendor-agnostic automation patterns and frameworks.
* Develop reusable, hardware-independent code and templates that can be applied consistently across different network and security platforms.
* Work closely with technical design authorities, solution architects and delivery teams to identify automation opportunities within customer projects and programmes.
* Shape and document best practice, standards and guidelines for network automation, ensuring they are understood and adopted by technical teams.
* Influence and align cross-functional teams without direct line management, providing technical leadership, guidance and coaching to drive change.
* Evaluate emerging tools, scripting approaches and AI/AIOps capabilities from vendors and the wider market, and determine how to best leverage them within BT.##
** What experience you'll need
*** Proven experience in network architecture, network design, or technical consultancy, ideally across multiple vendors (e.g. Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba, Palo Alto).
* Strong leadership and influence skills, with the ability to set technical direction and bring diverse specialist teams on a common automation journey.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the credibility to challenge and guide senior technical stakeholders.
* Ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on problem solving across multiple concurrent initiatives.##
** Benefits
* * At BT, we entertain, educate, and empower millions of people every single day. We’re a brand built on connecting people – whether that’s friends, family, businesses, or communities. Working here, you’ll receive an attractive salary and a range of competitive benefits, but – more than that – you’ll be joining an ambitious organisation with a culture of togetherness, collaboration, and inclusivity, that takes a genuine and proactive interest in your progress and development.

• 15% on target bonus  
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays  
• Car Allowance  
• Pension scheme (5% from you, 10% from BT)  
• Car allowance  
• Private healthcare for you and your family  
• From January 2025, equal family leave:  receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.  
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.  
• 2 weeks paid carer’s leave   
• Flexible benefits  
• Employee discounts
Flexible Working  

This role offers a 3 together, 2 wherever working model. This means you are required to be at your contractual location 3 days a week with 2 flexible days per week.

With over 175 years of heritage, BT is now the flagship business brand of BT Group. We’ve brought together our best people and capabilities into a B2B powerhouse serving 1.2 million business customers internationally.

We’re a global leader for secure connectivity and collaboration platforms for businesses…